New pope to see 'Family' in Philly?

The Pope is coming to Philadelphia - probably - and drawing as many as 1 million followers for a World Family Day Sept. 22-27, 2015, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput said Monday.

Pope Benedict XVI announced in June that he had chosen Philly to host the next gathering of families, which happens every three years. It's the first time the event will be held in North America.

It's expected to draw tens of thousands of followers to Philly, but could bring many more. Milan, which hosted in 2012, saw 1 million people attend the event's closing Mass, Chaput said.

It's also expected to bring the pope here. Chaput noted that popes historically have attended World Family Day, but, because Pope Benedict XVI recently announced that he will retire, "the man who's going to be pope hasn't been chosen yet and so can't be asked to commit."

Now that the Vatican officially has announced the dates, the hard part starts: fundraising. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has been struggling financially as it grapples with falling attendance, school closures and the fallout from a crippling clergy sex-abuse scandal.

Chaput wouldn't guess what World Family Day here might cost, but Milan had to shell out more than $10 million as host, Chaput said.

When reporters at Monday's news conference asked how he will start such a daunting fundraising effort, Chaput joked: "I'm going to stand at the door [as people exit] and ask for a gift from everyone in the room."

"Envelopes are in the back!" Mayor Nutter chimed in.

Seriously, Chaput said, the U.S. Conference of Bishops and Knights of Columbus already have committed to help raise money, and Chaput said that he'll solicit money locally and nationally.

"A gathering like the World Meeting of Families demands a great deal of planning, but it is an opportunity filled with grace," Chaput said. "This event has the power to transform, in deeply positive ways, not just the spirit of Catholic life in our area, but our entire community."

The gathering will offer families workshops on topics ranging from parenting and avoiding divorce to dealing with sexual abuse within the family, Chaput said.

Philadelphia, as the American birthplace of religious freedom, was a natural choice as host, Chaput and Nutter said.